ABPI's David Fisher defends drug pricing

ABPI commercial director, David Fisher has responded to criticism levied at the pharmaceutical industry over its pricing

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) commercial director, David Fisher has responded to criticism levied at the pharmaceutical industry over its pricing. In a viewpoint published on the BBC website, he says that companies "are unfairly attacked".

Fisher also says that pharma risks "millions upon millions of pounds in order to find new medicines to treat people who are sick and dying and for whom there is currently no treatment. The odds of success," he points out, "are almost impossible".

He also refers to the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) and its remit to cap the profits that the pharma industry can make. He puts forward the argument that the price of medicines in the UK was slashed by 7 per cent in 2005, with a further 3.9 per cent reduction this year, and a 2.9 per cent decrease due in 2010, and adds that prices in the UK are amongst the lowest in Europe.